Fluid bladeless turbine



Filed June 5, 1946 DEI!! Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT 1 2,598,678 FLUID BLADELESS TURBINE Basil W. Dennis, Baltimore, Md. Application June 5, 1946,'serial No. 674,466

9 Claims.

theprinciple of airdrag and impulse is employed to propel a seriesof circular discs mounted on a common shaft and spaced veryclosely to one another; gas pressure being administered through nozzles, blowing tangentially across their surfaces. The disadvantage of this construction arises from l'the vibratory action of the discs and the tendency to induce undesirable mechanical effects.

In this invention, it is an object to provide a new and irn'proved form of fluid turbine that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations 'ofthe prior art.

additional object of this invention is to provide a new and improved form of fluid turbine that will avoid the use of blades and blading construction.

A ffi'rtherlobject of this invention is to provide 'a new and improved form of fluid turbine that will derive a maximum amount of power from the lifnpelling medium -without the use of blades or other mechanical obstructions employed for absorbihg energy.

Fora better understanding of the invention and other objects thereof reference is made to the accompanying drawings and following description, which indicates 'a particular construction by of example, while the scope and spirit of the invention is pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a fluid turbine embodying this invention in sectional elevation in a longitucinai direction;

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view'showing the direction of ilow of the propelling fluid in the turbine being zig-zag therethrough.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction shown, an engine consists of a housing I0, which has a conventional base Il to support it, and piping I2, leading to angularly disposed nozzles I3 4attached at one end. The noazles :I3 are so directed that they induce an angular fiow of propelling fluid or gas under pressure on to the periphery of a cylinder I4 extending longitudinallyA across the housing'. The angular direction is preferably 145?. A shaft I E in suitable bearings and stuffing boxes IB sup-V 2 Y port the cylinder and enable it to rotate thereon. An exhaust pipe I] leads the exhaust .gases from the housing lli. Spokes i9 support the cylinders von the shaft I5, and are inade small enoughy to avoid material interference with the flow of the fluid through the turbine. As may be noted in the drawings, the cylinder I4, comprises a set of cylindrical surfaces concentrically arranged around the axial shaft l5. However, it is appreciated that such cylinder may be single or plural in the number of surfaces it presents, but whether single or plural the surfaces vare plane By this term ,plane is meant a structure that is relatively smooth and cylindrical, and not serrated, corrugated or flanged inwardly or outwardly to produce any kind of a noticeable projection intended` to obstructy the pressure iiui'd employed to operate the cylinder in a conventional mechanical ma'nner. v

The propelling iiuidwor gas fiows against the peripheral surface of the cylinder in a tangential manner, and impinges and adheres sufficiently theretorto induce a propulsive force vby drag or frictional reaction. The fiuid detaches from the surface after lcontinuing for a short distance, and diverts to the inside surface I8 of the cylinder, and rebounds from'same vtofcontact the cylinder f or a period, diverting therefrom to strike the surface `I8 again and rebound. This action taking place continuously around in the engine housing in a helical manner aroundv the cylinder until it reaches the exhaust outlet. The continuous contact with the cylinder induces the iluid to give 'up power and cause the rotationrof the cylinder at high speed. The helical path of uid has a greater and greater longitudinal or axial pitch as it progresses from nozzles. Variations are made .11,1 the Space. around the cylinderin the husine to accommodate for the expansion of the gas occurring as its pressure is reduced in its longitudinal flight through it.

rlhe structure shown in Fig. 3 employsa housing. .I0 as previously described, with ashaftl provided for` transmitting thepower `der /eloped in theturbine. The exhaust in this instance ,is preferably located at Il, adjacent themiddle of the housing. 'Ihewcylin'ders i4 receive vthe pro-v pelling fluid through them as indicated by the arrows. vThe battles 2i) serve tol direct the flow in zig-zag manner through the machine and thereby extends its path to enable more power to be rabsorbed in a limited structure. A collar 2| is provided innig. 1 on the, shaft ist@ couple the shaft te an ,extraneous transmission, that the power may be distributed to selected equipment.

The arrangement is simple but effective and has I beenreferred to in previous applications by the same applicant, Serial No. 584,768, filed January 5, 1932, now abandoned and Serial No. 459,016,

led September 19, V1942, now abandoned. The fluid has a traction effect on the surfaces it conl .tacts and passes over, which draws the impellers along with considerable force, in spite of the fact that it also continues ahead of the impeller in surface speed.=The effect is easily understood and experiments and models made by the applicant show it is consequential. In the case of a steam or gas it is due to impulse action and av v molecular impingement and skin friction of the A surface acted on, where the rate of'flow ofthe molecules is in the higher levels. The angular direction of the ow'serves to spread the contact and make more efcient use of its power. 'The turbines, and is very economical in the use ofv space. A

The term rotary engine as comprehending in face contact with that of its casing or as one in contact therewith as of the conventional iI-structure or otherwise and the broad class of engines having a rotary propeller or cylinder inside an outer casing. Y

The operation of the device is as follows: The uid molecules pass from the'nozzles I3 into the housing Ill at one end, angularly di` rected towards the opposite end. These molecules strike the peripheral surface of the first cylinder and in passing over it drag against the cylinder and rotate it. The fluid, if steam under pressure, continues at a high speed across the surface of the cylinder and gives up some of its energy tion as are conventionally used in turbines of common make. The direction of ow in the drawings is indicated in a general clockwise movement. The nozzles in Figs. 1 and 2 are shownexpanded towards the outgoing ends to spread the ow across the greater area Yof the cylinders and shaft, than would be the case, if it came out only through the small cross-sectionV of the pipe I2. Since the cylinders and shaft are turning as the fluid strikes their peripheral surfaces, the flow becomes helical as it progresses from the inlet end to the exhaust end.

,While there has been described what is at present considered to be a new and improved embodiment of this invention, it will be noted that various changes and modifications may be made l` this description includes devices of a rotary Vtype whther such is a turbine running free from sur-` in -inducing the rotation. As the surfaces of same-direction as the steam, does not appreciably lessen the drag action of the steam thereon. This is because the rate of vflow of the steam is so much greater than that of the rotation of the cylinders and shaft. The steam gives up a large amount of its energy and slows up near the end of the travel where it leaves the housing. thus enabling the shaft vI3 to Vtransmit it for useful work elsewhere. It should be noted that the drag of the steam acts on the outer and inner surfaces of the walls of the cylinders as well as on the exterior of the shaft I5 and since it travels around with them the path is of a helical or screw-like nature. This helical path is extended from the nozzle end to the exhaust end of the housing. In other words. the iiuid simply blows across the peripheral surfaces of the cylinders and shaft I5 in an angular direction, and in doing so drags against them like a helical blanket directed from the inlet end to the exhaust end. No vanes or blades are required in this inventhereon without departing from the principles andrspirit of the invention, as sought to be dened in the following claims.

Iclaim: 1. A fluid turbine propelled by a fiuid under pressure, comprising in combination, a housing, cylinders having plane circumferential surfaces rotatable in the housing, nozzle means attached to the housing directed toward the cylinders for guiding said uid against the peripheral surfaces of the cylinders in an angular direction thereto, to provide a helical path therefor around it and induce a drag to rotate the cylinders, and means for the transmission of power by said cylinders connected thereto. Y

2. A fluid turbine propelled by a uid under pressure,V comprising in combination, a housing, cylinders rotatable in the housing having their circumferential surfaces plane and unserrated, nozzle means attached to the housing and directed toward the cylinders for guiding said uid against the periphery of the cylinders against said surfaces in an angular direction thereon, across the longitudinal surface area thereof to provide a helical path therefor around it and induce a drag to rotate the cylinders and impinge the fluid against the surfaces of the cylinders to rebound continuously against theA cylinders for the length thereof, and means for the transmission of power connected thereto.

3; A fluid turbine propelled by a iiuid under pressure, comprising in combination, a housing, cylinders having plane circumferential surfaces rotatable in the housing, nozzle means attached to the housing and directed toward the cylinders for guiding said fluid against the said surfaces of the cylinders in an angular direction to spread over the 'superficial area thereof and to provide a helical path therefor around it and induce a drag to rotate the Vcylinders and impinge the uid against the surface of thecylinders to rebound continuously against the cylinders for the length thereof during their rotation, and means operated for the transmission of power by said cylinders, said housing and cylinders being variably enlarged to accommodate the reducing'pressure of the fluid as it gives up its power to the cylinders during its travel.

4. A turbine of the vclass described comprising in combination, an internally cylindrical housing, including a chamber, stufling box openings at predetermined locations, and a base for supporting itin a predetermined manner, a shaft passing axially and unleakably Vthrough said chamber in the housing and openings and adapted for delivering energy therefrom extraneously to said chamber, a plurality of concentrically arranged cylindrical impeller casings rotatable in said chamber in close proximity to one another and the housing, spider means for connecting said casings and shaft rigidly together so as to be rotatable therewith, a nozzle connection for said housing for directing fluid under pressure segregatively againstthe peripheral surfaces of said casings internally and externally and shaft in a primary tangential-longitudinal direction over same to induce the fluid to drag against said surfaces and distribute energy thereto for the rotation of the casings and shaft and exhaust from the housing after doing so, said fluid taking a path of extended helical form across said surfaces in predetermined directions coordinatively acting upon said surfaces simultaneously, and means for guiding the fluid as it passes through the housing in incidental paths to facilitate its flow expansively.

5. A turbine of the class described comprising in combination, a housing, a plurality of plane cylinders mounted and rotatable in said housing, a shaft connected with said cylinders and rotatable therewith, a nozzle means connected to the housing and pointed angularly across the peripheral surfaces of the cylinders so as to distribute a fluid under pressure over the peripheral surfaces thereof in a glancing manner fromthe exterior of one cylinder to and against the interior of another in a rotative direction, whereby the energy of the fluid is absorbed by the cylinders and shaft to rotate them, means for guiding the uid across the cylinders, said cylindrical surfaces being relatively smooth and parallel to the shaft, so the drag derived from the passage of the fluid thereover will be due directly to the surface tension and adhesive attraction existing during the period that the fluid contacts said surfaces, means for connecting a transmission to the shaft, and means for sealing the fluid within the housing so it cannot leak yet without obstructing the general flow thereof as it passes through the housing, said housing having an inlet and exhaust port for said 110W.

6. In a uid turbine, a rotor rotatable in bearings in said turbine and enclosed in its casing housing its operable portions, said rotor being bladeless, cylindrical and plane so that the main surfaces contacted by the fluid will be relatively smooth cylindrical form, the path of the fluid being directed and guided about the periphery of said rotor to drag on said surfaces.

7. In a steam turbine, a plane cylindrical rotor rotatable in the housing of the turbine and arranged for exterior transmission of its power, said rotor having a relatively smooth peripheral surface without blades or projections of appreciable size, against which the steam is directed angularly in a longitudinal direction to provide a quasi-tangentially drag in said surface and cause the rotation therein.

8. In a steam turbine, a rotor of cylindrical form and relatively smooth contour rotatable in the housing of said turbine, a shaft for carrying said rotor and arranged for the transmission of power exterior to the housing, an orifice in the wall of the housing for delivering steam to the surface of said rotor at an angle thereto 1ongitudinally to pass over said surface in an angular tangential direction continuing arcuately partially on the cylindrical contour with the rotation of the rotor induced by the adhesive drag of the steam thereon as it flows to an exhaust outlet in the housing the surfaces impinged upon by the fluid under pressure being plane and relatively smooth of cylindrical contour.

9. A turbine operable by gaseous uids under pressure, comprising in combination, a housing, a plane cylindrical body axially rotatable in said housing, and a nozzle positioned in the housing for delivering said fluids into the housing against the circumferential plane surfaces of said cylin` der in an angular tangential direction to force it to rotate on its axis and carry said fluids in a helical direction as it derives power therefrom, and an exhaust to said housing to permit said eX- pended fluids to flow therefrom.

BASIL W. DENNIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 509,644 Bardsley Nov. 28, 1893 1,053,637 OReilly Feb. 18, 1913 1,179,078 Dake Apr. 11, 1916 1,455,022 Dake May 15, 1923 '2,043,788 Adair June 9, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,762 Great Britain Mar. 28, 1911 383,587 France Mar. 12, 1908 OTHER REFERENCES Steampower Plant Engineering, Gebhart, edition 1913, p. 459. 

